"The Rainbow Connection" is a popular song written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher and originally performed by Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson) in The Muppet Movie in 1979. By extension, as evidenced in the TV special, The Muppets at Walt Disney World, the song has come to epitomize the ideals and artistic spirit of Henson and his company as much as "When You Wish Upon a Star" represents Walt Disney and his company. Paul Hamilton Williams (born September 19, 1940, in Omaha, Nebraska) is an American composer, songwriter, and actor. ... Kenneth Ascher (born October 26, 1944, Washington, D.C.), also known as Ken or Kenny Ascher, is an American musician (keyboards), songwriter and musical arranger. ... Kermit singing Bein Green in the first season of Sesame Street. ... Jim Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was the most widely known American puppeteer in modern American television history. ... The Muppet Movie is the first of a series of live-action musical feature films starring Jim Hensons Muppets. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... A Television Special is a television program that is essentially a television movie or a short film usually intended to be broadcast sporadically, typically once a year at most. ... The Muppets at Walt Disney World is a television special starring Jim Hensons Muppets at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. ... Jim Hensen Company in Los Angeles The Jim Henson Company is an American company founded in 1958 by puppeteer Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets. ... When You Wish upon a Star is a popular song written by Ned Washington and Leigh Harline and introduced in the 1940 Walt Disney movie Pinocchio, where it is sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jiminy Cricket, over the opening credits and again in the final scene of... For the company founded by Disney, see The Walt Disney Company. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

It has been covered by artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Kenny Loggins, The Dixie Chicks, San Diego, punk-junk band Chris Williams and the Moshing Moses Orchestra, Justin Timberlake, The Carpenters, Kiki and Herb, Jason Mraz, The Pussycat Dolls, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Jim Brickman, Caroline's Spine, The Dresden Dolls, Malmal and the Mallettes, Willie Nelson (who is actually often incorrectly credited with penning the song), pop-punk band Fifteen ,Ed Helms in The Office and many others. It was sung by Blondie's Debbie Harry in a duet with Kermit on the Muppet Show in 1981 (Season 5). Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC,[2] OBC[2] (born January 28, 1968) is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. ... Kenny Loggins (born Kenneth Clark Loggins on January 7, 1948) is an American singer and songwriter best known for a number of soft rock and adult contemporary hit singles beginning in the 1970s. ... The Dixie Chicks: Martie, Natalie and Emily The Dixie Chicks is a country music group, formed in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. ... Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is a two-time Grammy Award-winning American pop/R&B singer, and actor. ... The Carpenters were a vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter. ... Kiki and Herb (Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman) are an American drag cabaret duo. ... This articles section called Miscellanea does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a punk rock cover band that formed in 1995. ... Jim Brickman (born November 20, 1961) is a Jewish-American composer and contemporary pianist. ... Carolines Spine is an alternative rock band based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. ... The Dresden Dolls are an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Fifteen may refer to: 15, the cardinal number between 14 and 16 The year 15 Fifteen, a chain of restaurants created by Jamie Oliver Fifteen, a teen soap on Nickelodeon during the 1990s (known in Canada as Hillside) Fifteen, the punk rock band Fifteen (15), the movie Fifteen, 2006 Buckcherry... Ed Helms (born January 24, 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an actor and comedian most notable for his work as a correspondent on Comedy Centrals The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. ... The Office is the title of multiple television situation comedy shows created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. ... The following are uses of the word Blondie: Blondie (band) - a band based in New York City, active in the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s Blondie (comic strip) - a long-running newspaper comic strip Blondie (movie) - Blondie is a 1938 movie based on the comic strip Blondie was also: the... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Duet may refer to: Duet, musical form Duet, Fox sitcom This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Muppet Show was a television program featuring a cast of Muppets (diverse hand-operated puppets, typically with oversized eyes and large moving mouths) produced by Jim Henson and his team from 1976 to 1981. ...

The punk band Leftover Crack included a song based on "The Rainbow Connection" on their album Rock the 40 oz. titled "Muppet N.A.M.B.L.A." Leftöver Crack is a band that rose from the remains of the seminal ska/punk band Choking Victim, which released a small number of very-low budget albums in the mid-90s. ...

Chart success

Kermit's version of "The Rainbow Connection" reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November of 1979; the song remained in the Top 40 for 7 weeks total. The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... American Top 40 (commonly abbreviated to AT40) is an independent internationally-syndicated radio program currently hosted by Ryan Seacrest. ...

Critical reception and legacy

Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams received Oscar nominations at the 1979 Academy Awards for the movie score and for "The Rainbow Connection", which the All Music Guide describes as an "unlikely radio hit ... which Kermit the Frog sings with all the dreamy wistfulness of a short green Judy Garland."^[1] AMG goes on to add that "'The Rainbow Connection' serves the same purpose in [The Muppet Movie] that 'Over the Rainbow' serves in The Wizard of Oz, with nearly equal effectiveness: an opening establishment of the characters' driving urge for something more in life."^[1] The song was also nominated for the Golden Globes for "Best Original Song" in 1979. Kenneth Ascher (born October 26, 1944, Washington, D.C.), also known as Ken or Kenny Ascher, is an American musician (keyboards), songwriter and musical arranger. ... Paul Hamilton Williams (born September 19, 1940, in Omaha, Nebraska) is an American composer, songwriter, and actor. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Superscript text Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an Oscar-nominated American film actress, considered by many to be one of the greatest singing stars of Hollywoods Golden Era of musical film, best known for her role as Dorothy Gale from The... The song Over the Rainbow (music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) was written to showcase Judy Garlands talents in the star vehicle movie The Wizard of Oz, and it became her lifelong theme song. ... The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, see The Wizard of Oz (adaptations). ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... For the main article see Golden Globe Awards. ...

The popular song's name has been used by a number of charitable organizations wishing to evoke its message, including a children's charity similar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation[1], a summer camp for seriously ill children[2], and a horseback riding camp for people with disabilities[3]. It is also the name of a suspender and tie store[4] Make-A-Wish Foundation logo The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that grants wishes to children (2. ...

Notable lines from the song

• Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me.
• Why are there so many songs about rainbows?
• I've heard it too many times to ignore it
• All of us under its spell, we know that it's probably magic
• Rainbows are visions, but only illusions
• Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
• What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing? And what do we think we might see?

But there is no one notable line, the entire song as a whole is whats notable

Trivia

On 22 March 1996 a young man briefly held a New Zealand radio station hostage. One of his key demands was that the station play "The Rainbow Connection".^[2] March 22 is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... MORE FM is a New Zealand radio network playing adult contemporary music. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Cater, Darryl. Muppet Movie Original Soundtrack Review. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-05-09.
2. ^ CNN World Fringe.

Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• "The Rainbow Connection" lyrics
• Words by Paul Williams